The Aussie boxer has slammed USA Boxing for a policy that allows male boxers who transition to fight in the female category.
Ebanie Bridges has slammed USA Boxing for a ‘Transgender Policy’ that allows male boxers who transition to fight in the female category. The Aussie boxer blasted the policy, saying it is dangerous and puts the health and safety of boxers at risk.
The governing body, which oversees both America’s amateur and Olympic-style boxing, announced transgender athletes will be allowed to compete in their current gender under certain conditions if they are over the age of 18. Boxers under 18, however, must still compete as their birth gender.
Bridges labelled the decision by USA Boxing as ‘wrong on so many levels’ and believes it is dangerous for female boxers. “I will never agree to this… it’s bad enough having trans women breaking records in other sports like track and field, swimming and powerlifting but it’s a bit different to them breaking our skulls in combat sports where the aim is to HURT YOU not just break a record…however I think it’s wrong in ALL SPORT,” Bridges wrote on X.
“I have nothing against trans but can’t be skewing the line in sport…. You don’t see reference or debates for transmen in sport… cos it’s not a threat… It ain’t just about the test levels what about their bone density and a heap of other biological factors. Cutting your bits off and adding boobs won’t take back the masculine maturity your body has gone through before you decided you are now a woman.”
The former world champion boxer believes the controversial policy could ultimately harm women’s boxing as a whole and says sportswomen must fight this change together. “I don’t care about ‘political correctness’ it’s politically incorrect to have a man fighting a woman,” she wrote in another post on X.
“And idc (I don’t care) that’s exactly what it is… this society is too soft.. this is our health and safety. The girls need to stick together or women’s sport in 50 years will be filled with male-born champions.”
How the ‘Transgender Policy’ will work
For a transgender athlete to be able to compete in the female category they must meet certain criteria such as; declaring their new gender identity, completing gender reassignment surgery and undergoing regular hormone testing. Both male and female transgender athletes must complete quarterly hormone testing and this must be documented with US Boxing for a minimum of four years post-surgery.
Boxers who have transitioned from male to female must also be able to show that their total testosterone level in serum is below 5 nmol/L and has been for a minimum of 48 months before their first competition. In a statement last week USA Boxing announced the change and said it was to “provide fairness and safety for all boxers”. Boxing’s International Federation is yet to determine eligibility for transgender boxers.
